All rights Belong to Rick Riordan
Chapter 29
Daughter of the Warrior Goddess
(Percy)
It had actually been pretty easy to find the daughter of Bellona once I left the Wolf House. I had simply walked or in some cases stumbled through the woods in a generally southwards direction. Taking more care to focus on the life in my surroundings than what was under my feet. Eventually I had detected two presences nearby, one of a demigod and the other a form of mythical creature. Which I guessed was Scipio, if that rumour was true. However, the two of them soon separated as she left the pegasus behind.
I refused to act though still and carried on walking and continued to feel her on the periphery of my detection zone. As she moved ahead of me, still completely unseen by me and ready to cut my path off from behind a tree.
I had quite happily walked into her 'trap' and was unsurprised by the blade that suddenly came towards my throat. Only to lunge forward with my own free hand and quickly wrestle the blade from her grasp. She may have been skilled in combat, but I had the element of surprise and considerably more physical strength than the former Praetor.
Slowly I increased the level of light given off by the blades, using Hyperion's former domain just enough to reveal my face to the girl.
"Hello Reyna, I have been looking for you." I asked politely with a reassuring or so I hoped smile. Only to be met with silence, as she slowly backed up against the tree and stared at me open mouthed.
"Long time no see Praetor, what brings you out here?" I joked light-heartedly hoping to stir her out of her silence. This too was once again met with silence, although her mouth was moving but no sound was coming out.
"Olympus to Reyna." I called waving a hand in front of her face.
"Percy." She finally whispered out, barely audible.
I had almost been about to congratulate her on the ability to put words together. When suddenly her right hand curled into a fist, and she pushed off from the tree. Ironically, I was not left with time to react as her fist contacted my face and I staggered back onto my backside dropping her sword and holding my nose. It wasn't long before I began feeling liquid pooling down my face. Great! Styx apparently couldn't be bothered to stop that one.
As I sat there cradling my now broken nose, I heard hurried footsteps and knew she was doing a runner. Ignoring my red ichorous blood pouring down my face I ran after her.
(Diana)
I had been watching the confrontation from above and initially it looked to be going well. Percy had quickly found her general area and a means to lure her in with Lupa's help. However, when she had intercepted him, and he disarmed her. I had thought it was over and he would be able to bring her back with no more problems. Instead, she had surprisingly gone on the offensive whilst his guard was down and broken the young Titan's nose. Before escaping while he was momentarily distracted in pain and shock at the surprise turn of events.
I was beginning to see perhaps the girl did have some potential and clearly had a functional brain. She knew he was a superior opponent and sought to incapacitate him temporarily while she attempted to escape. It was not surprising to see her rapidly making her way back towards the concealed Pegasus, albeit now with Percy running after her as he ignored his wound for the time being.
This was the first time since the augur's death I had actually seen him hurt and was somewhat confused by him still having mortal coloured crimson blood. Considering I knew he was fully capable of witnessing a god's immortal form without being vaporized. It was unimportant for the moment but something to inquire about later when he returned.
Finally, the Roman demigod reached the small glade where Scipio or whatever the Pegasus was called sat grazing. She quickly mounted herself onto its back and urged the beast to take flight. Sensing its master's urgency, the horse began to flap his wings rapidly as it broke into a gallop and gain elevation. Just as Percy entered the area looked up and noticed what was happening.
In fairness I could not fault anything the girl had done so far, if anything she had made every correct choice. This despite what anyone had said about her perhaps being a little crazy. In any other situation taking to the air was the correct choice to do when confronted by a son of Poseidon. However, unluckily for her, Percy Jackson was not any son of Poseidon.
(Percy)
Once I entered that glade and saw the situation, I knew I had two choices: Let Reyna escape or go after her and reveal what I really was. As much as I wanted to conceal my abilities, I knew that I had to stop the former Praetor. The path she was taking would eventually result in her death and I still wanted to lose none of my friends. Not again and certainly not for an avoidable reason.
Briefly I saw Scipio lock eyes on me with a worried expression before his hooves cleared the gap in the tree canopy and he began to fly away westward. Wasting no time, I unfolded my wings and with a mighty flap leapt into the air after them.
Now a pegasi can move at a fair old pace, but I knew I was far faster. Not even Blackjack could match me now and he was the fastest of the sons of Pegasus I knew. Of course, whether his father the original could match me was something to explore at a later date, if I ever got a chance.
I tucked the twin Gladii into my belt as I reached into my jacket and drew forth my spear and extended it until the now familiar weapon and cocked back my arm and threw it.
The weapon sailed over the two figures in front of me, the weapon released I focused on it and caused it to freeze in place and whilst intensifying the light it was giving out to a blinding level.
In doing so I had essentially created a jury-rigged flare, the dazzling light it gave off blinding the Pegasus and his rider momentarily. Using their distraction to fly ahead of them, so I was only a few feet in front of the Pegasus when they regained their vision.
(Reyna)
I had been surprised when the sudden light erupted in front of my eyes, but nothing could have prepared me for the figure now hovering directly in front of me. Hundreds of feet in the air and held aloft on what must have been a dozen golden wings. The most outrageous thing was the figure was still clearly Percy Jackson. However, he now looked considerably different from the last time I saw him at the Greek Camp, back before he disappeared.
He was easily a lot taller now and had less of a depressed or weary look and his body structure was a certainly a lot more muscled. However, that was all trivial differences compared to the obvious growth of the twelves golden wings sprouting from his back and the fact his eyes were blazing gold as well.
The only bit that looked off was the blood pouring down his front from where I had punched him. That blow should have knocked out with the amount of force I put behind it but other than the damage to his obviously broken crooked nose, he did not look to phased by the injury.
"Reyna, please land I don't intend to hurt you." He said calmly to my surprise. I had just punched him in the face and run away and it seemed like he was really not bothered.
"Why should I? Every time you turn up in my life, you ruin it. So why don't you fuck off and leave me alone!" I screamed at him irrationally, hoping that perhaps he would just do that.
"So be it. Scipio, I want you to land. You know you cannot outrun me, and your mistress and I need to talk, and I would rather do it on solid ground than up here." Percy commanded turning to my mount instead. The pegasus neighed a reply, which I didn't understand but clearly the son of Neptune/Poseidon or whatever the hell he was now did. In response to the pegasus's words he simply nodded and against my protests we all began to lose elevation.
When Scipio's hooves met the ground, I had immediately leapt from the saddle and reached for my scabbard. Only to remember Percy had taken the sword and I guessed it was one of the pair that was currently tucked in his belt. Instead, I grabbed the Pilum that was strapped along Scipio's side and my shield and levelled them at the man, who was approaching slowly with his fronts empty in front of him.
"Reyna I am not here to hurt you or to take you back to Rome. I simply wish to talk and make you an offer. I swear that on the Styx. Now please lay down your arms." He said reassuringly to the echo of thunder above. As a result, slowly I lowered the arms to my side although still ready to be used at a moment's notice.
"Why are you here now Percy? Where were you for all those months when I could have used some help? For god's sake, I spent weeks arguing your case in the Senate and being ridiculed for it. And yet now you turn up out of the blue and want to talk, well then talk!" I shouted with tears in my eyes.
"I came to help you; I know what you did, and I am sorry for everything that happened to you because of me. I should have never got you involved with what happened to Octavian. It was my fault the Legion lost faith in you and for that I am sorry. As for why I didn't return I simply couldn't, as you can see, I am not exactly normal now." He said apologetically flapping a set of wings, so they caught the light from above before it suddenly disappeared returning the sky to darkness. Only for a flaming golden spear to materialize in his hand and the light to return but thankfully with a less blinding amount in his hand.
"What happened to you? For that matter what even are you?" I asked still trying to comprehend what I was seeing. As I watched his golden eyes return to their normal sea green, except the pupils they remained golden and slowly his wings fold and interlocked behind his back underneath his jacket, so they were hidden from view.
"After I collapsed, I was taken to Olympus and the ensuing rewards ceremony. The surviving members of The Seven were offered godhood and accepted of course. But when it came to my ceremony The Fates intervened and forbid it. Instead, due to my grandfather Kronos or as you know him Saturn's final actions when we met him Tartarus, I became a Titan Lord and his replacement on the Titan council." He explained and if anyone else had said that I would have called them insane. I still would have challenged him on it, if not for the fact I had seen the sword of Saturn when he had tortured our former augur.
"Wait. So, we went to all that trouble to defeat the Titans, only for you to end up joining them?" I said with hostility raising my spear only to find my arm frozen in place and I looked up to see his eyes had returned to their golden colour. It didn't take much more evidence to conclude that he had gotten more than just the sword from the Titan King, he had also gained dominion over time itself.
"Listen and don't jump to conclusions Reyna, I am not finished. I meant what I said about not being here to harm you, even if my own face still hurts like hades." He said before blinking and I regained control of my arm as his eyes once again returned to normal. Still, it went to show that the only reason I escaped before was because I had caught him by surprise. He could very likely defeat me without lifting a finger by freezing me in time.
"Yes, the Titans as a group for the most part are free and have been for the better part of a year. Next, I am indeed a member of their council, but I am as well, as they all are sworn to not do anything against Olympus. Believe it or not the number of them that actually wanted to rule the world could be counted on one hand and most of them are dead now. Besides I would die even if I did betray that oath as even now, I am not a full Titan. I can still die, so please refrain from hitting me anymore." He said wiping away some of the blood on his face with a sleeve and sure enough it was still very much red in this light not golden ichor.
"How can you be a Titan and yet be mortal?" I asked confused looking down at my hand. Sure enough, where some of his blood was still encrusted on my knuckles before spotting small flecks of gold in it as I looked harder.
"This is Ichor but with a mortal taint to it which gives it its colour. I am for simplicities sake about ninety-nine percent immortal and have most of a gods or Titans abilities except a few." He explained as his bloodstained sleeve automatically cleaned itself.
"Ok then Lord Percy, what are you Titan of then besides obviously time?" I said more politely knowing I was screwed if I continued to piss him off. The fact that I was even still alive after I tried to knock him out was a testament to how he was as a person. I was pretty sure even a minor god like Terminus if the chance would not have taken my actions without some form of punishment.
"Don't call me Lord anything. Besides technically it is Lord Perseus, Lord of Time, Light, Constellations and Titan of the Hunt and formerly of the Air as well." He explained as if the list bored him. I was flabbergasted at how someone who had seemingly more power than most of the Roman pantheon could be so laidback about it. Now Time was obvious but technically if he inherited Saturn's domains should he not also have obtained Agriculture and wealth. Instead, it sounded like he had gained Crius's and Hyperion's as well some others.
"And to think Jason only got Storms, you certainly beat him in the rewards department." I said bitterly, still remembering the smug look on his and the bitches face when they returned from Olympus. Were it not for the son of Hades correcting him constantly, the greatly embellished tale about the son of Jupiter doing most of the work would have spread around further. Eventually the truth came out about most of the hard work being done by Percy and the rechristened Anna Minerva. But his part was forgotten by what came after by the majority of the Legion.
"Yeah, I guess you could say that. However, I would have given all of it up to have Annabeth back, but The Fates can be cruel as we are both aware." He said sadly and I had to agree remembering news of the daughter of Athena's death being given to the Greeks and Minerva's new Roman name and Domain.
It had taken me weeks to learn the truth of change and about Annabeth's sacrifice to save the goddess and how the two were tied together.
"She was a good hero and I wish I could have met her without the conflict. Even if admittedly, I was jealous of her... and you." I said respectfully, truthfully it was no lie to say I had gained a slight romantic interest in Percy during his brief tenure at Camp Jupiter. but it was just trying to catch him on the rebound after missing Jason for so long and seeing a lot of similarity between the two. Besides, he had a girlfriend then and now I knew he was way out of my league now. Tall, muscled and handsome, on top of being insanely powerful and immortal.
"Thank you, I only regret not being able to save her and you would gotten a chance to meet her. If that bitch Gaia hadn't intervened, a lot of death and suffering could have been avoided, may she suffer in the void for ever." He said bitterly of someone who was technically his great-grandmother. Then again Saturn was his grandfather, so he was no stranger to fighting and killing his ancestors.
"Ok enough about you, why are you here and trying to catch me?" I demanded forcefully.
"Lady Lupa wanted me to stop you helping others to reach New Rome. As apparently you are interfering with tradition, stupid as it is. This way you don't get punished when the other Olympians catch you eventually." He explained.
"Why would they care if I helped others to the city? After all, you Greeks have Satyrs that look for and find demigods and bring them safely to your camp. How is what I am doing any different?" I protested.
"Truthfully, I don't know, but I never have understood why your people were so steeped up in tradition. All I know is your mother and Lupa were worried about you."
"Oh, so now my mother is concerned, what about when I left the Wolf House all those years ago. She certainly didn't care then, no one should have to suffer the hardships me and Hylla suffered before we found a safe home. Then you came along and ruined our new home with Circe, our lives destroyed and separated. Then once again you appeared before me in Rome and ruined it there as well." I argued irrationally.
"I had no choice on Circe's island after all she turned me into a damned guinea pig. If Annabeth hadn't freed me, the world would have been destroyed by Saturn two years earlier. Next it was Juno's fault I got sent to Rome and Jason to Camp Half-Blood I was quite happily getting on with my life on the other side of the country away from you. Therefore, that is in no way my fault." He protested back and it was pretty obvious he had very little leeway, in what he could have done. He was just as much a victim of fate as I was.
(Percy)
As I watched her stew over my testimony, I regarded the sorry state she was in now that she was no longer concealed by the darkness. Her armour was a mess and was held together in places by little more than Sellotape and bent nails roughly hammered in place. Her shield had four great rents ripped out of the face that I recognized as being hellhound claws. Her cape or rather what was left of it had very little of the original purple showing underneath the dirt covered and burned sections.
Clearly, she had been attacked numerous times since she left her city, and I could tell her time was running out. She had to either return to Rome and face the music or she could accept Diana's offer or tragically she would die soon.
"Reyna you cannot carry on doing this, you are just going to get yourself killed." I stated knocking her out of her thoughts.
"Well what else can I do? Go back to the camps and be the laughingstock of the Legion? Besides I don't want to see him or her again." She protested bitterly.
"Don't want to see who? Oh, you mean Jason." I said a little slow on the uptake.
"I can't stand the way the Spawn of Love follows him around everywhere and he acts like a lovesick puppy with her." She growled out through gritted teeth.
"Good because I have an alternative for you. Somewhere else you can go instead of the camps." I explained.
"I am not staying with the Titans." She said bluntly and firmly.
"Hades no! Even I don't stay with them anymore unless I am needed on the council, no I wanted to offer you a place in Diana's huntresses." I explained quickly looking toward the moon high above, I was sure the goddess was probably looking after all.
"Diana doesn't have huntresses anymore, not for the last two millennia at least." She argued surprisingly aware of that situation, then again, she had been unwittingly involved with the deaths of their Greek counterparts. Perhaps she had learned about them afterwards.
"That is indeed true she didn't, but she does now, and I am offering you a place amongst them. You get all the fun perks like fighting and killing monsters with the added bonus of immortality." I said cheerfully trying to sell it to her.
"How can you offer places in Artemis's hunt? Especially as from all rumours going back centuries, she hates men." She asked raising an eyebrow.
"For the most part she does. But Artemis or Diana whatever you want to call her and me get along great. I am the Guardian of the Hunt for now, I protect them and in return Artemis helps me with learning about my Hunting Domain." I said simplifying my official relationship to the goddess, even if it was perhaps much more personal than that.
"So, my choices are Stay here and either eventually die violently and alone or get caught by the gods and punished. Go back to Rome and face the ridicule of the Senate and my fellow Praetor..." She said almost spitting the words out.
"...or join Diana's hunt become immortal and find a way of knocking some smug grins off of a few faces." She summarized.
"You will also not be bound by the camps rules and traditions and no more politics. Also, when we will eventually return to either Camp you can perhaps knock some sense into your fellow legionaries. The choice is yours remember." I added.
"Is his sister still Lieutenant?" Reyna asked curiously.
"If you mean Thalia, yes but honestly, she has very little in common with Jason. Other than parents obviously and a bit of attention seeking, but that is their father's flaw after all." I explained.
"Very well then, I accept your offer, Lord Perseus." She said with a smile as I groaned at that name.
(Diana)
As childish as it was, I did a small fist pump as she agreed to meet with me.
Listening to her story and infilling what I had learned from Bellona and Lupa. It was clear she was no different to so many tragic stories I had heard from prospective hunters since the group's inception.
Still, I had to resist temptation to travel down there immediately. Percy seemingly had this under control and the last thing I wanted was to ruin it by fawning all over him. I was at least supposed to act like a man-hating goddess, something I had difficulty doing around the young Titan.
(Percy)
Oblivious of what was going on high above me, I carried on addressing the now compliant daughter of Bellona.
"First thing is do not tell anyone what you know about me, I mean anything. The hunters still believe I am a simple demigod albeit being immortal and their guardian other than that they don't know about me and the Titans. For the time being Artemis and I intend to keep it that way. I need you to swear on the Styx to tell no one, not until I openly reveal it if I need to." I explained.
"Are they all a bit dumb? How can you hide the fact of clearly having wings and golden eyes?' Reyna asked in disbelief.
"Hey, I can hide them pretty well why do you think I wear this coat? Certainly not to keep cold in the middle of summer. As for the eyes just watch." I said waving a hand in front of my eyes and manipulating the mist around my face and concealing my true eyes colour.
"Okay very impressive then, I Reyna, daughter of Bellona do swear on the Styx to not reveal your identity, unless given permission or you reveal it yourself." She stated once again accompanied by the sound of thunder above, which she seemingly winced at.
"Do you not like thunder?" I asked curiously. Once upon a time I was the same, mostly because I thought it was going to be the last thing I ever heard.
"No, more like the memories of the guy it is associated with now." She said looking at the floor. Obviously, referring to the new god of storms.
"Don't worry about Jason or Piper. Besides you have to swear off men remember. Plus, next time you see him you can show him exactly what he lost." I said reassuringly and she looked up with confidence.
"I will show them all what they drove away. Now when do we leave?" She said full of determination.
"We are not going very far anyway the camp is somewhat nearby, you can just ride Scipio there and I will fly ahead of you." I explained and she began to walk towards the pegasus.
"Reyna one second, please wait." I said hurriedly, taking a step towards her and placing my hand on her shoulder as I began focusing on my time ability.
(Reyna)
I had felt a touch to my shoulder and had been ready to turn and face the demigod/Titan hybrid or whatever he was now. When I was suddenly engulfed in golden light, and I was forced to close my eyes.
Gradually the light forcing its way through my eyelids diminished and I guessed it was safe to open them and gasped as I looked at myself.
Looking down I found my worn armour once again in pristine condition, lacking all the botched home repairs I had made to it. My cape was now restored to its magnificent purple colour and length and my shield was completely intact as the day it had been made two-thousand years ago. Unlike a standard legionary who bore the classic rectangular infantry more, mine was the more forgotten oval cavalry version.
The shield had been passed down through the Legion since the time of the Republic and had sat unused in an armoury in the original Rome and brought with them as a reminder of who originally wielded it.
Most demigods had refused to touch the weapon as it had belonged Marcus Antonius or as he was more commonly known now as Mark Anthony. Who had served as consul with both Caesar and later with and ultimately against his heir Octavian/Augustus was my long since deceased half-brother as a son of Bellona. As the loser in that conflict the shield had long since fallen into disrepair and had been reluctantly maintained and stripped of pieces by generations of Legionaries until I had claimed it.
When I had claimed it from the armoury, I had needed to have the metal frame and the boss in the centre renovated in simple iron due to decay. But now it looked like it had been returned to what I guessed was its original condition back when it was manufactured. It looked like an item used by someone of high status. The shield was framed in Imperial Gold plating as was the central boss and rivets and the painting was in purple signifying high status befitting a general.
"Now you look more like I remember." I heard from behind me, and I turned to look up and see his eyes were once again golden.
"Thank you, I guess. If you can do something like this, then why not fix your nose already?" I said pointing at the still visible injury. Fortunately, it seemed to have mostly stopped bleeding now, but it was still strange seeing his nose deformed to one side
"I can only restore inanimate objects to their past condition. People and injuries are still beyond my power for the most part. Otherwise, I could have saved Annabeth and a lot of others before. As for this, a bit of Ambrosia will heal it in no time." He explained and I guessed he was not limited to the amount of the divine food he could eat unlike us mere mortals.
"I suppose everything has limitations of course. By the way can I have my sword back now?" I asked curiously.
"Only if you promise not to stab me with it. Quick question though. Which one was yours I have forgotten?" He stated embarrassed as he pulled them both out of his belt and offered them both out hilt first, before I took the correct blade. It was easily identified as the one with the dents in the pommel, after I had used it as a ball-peen hammer to fix my armour previously.
"Okay now you have finished with the magic tricks, can we go now?" I asked impatiently, he simply unfurled his wings, and I took that as an agreement and mounted back on the pegasus.
Scipio did a prance in a circle before suddenly bounding forward while pumping his wings and we began to slowly gain elevation before clearing the treetops. Percy was a lot more subtle as he simply flapped once behind us and rose into the sky vertically before gliding in front of me and leading the way.
(Percy)
The journey back to the camp was delayed only momentarily, as I made a quick stop at the Wolf House. I needed to retrieve my remaining arms and returned the borrowed blade to the wolf goddess within. I had more than enough swords as it was, and the Roman weapon did not match my own hack and slash type of combat, I was less reliant on stabbing blows.
Of course, Lupa had enquired about Reyna, and I informed her of what had transpired to which the she-wolf seemed to let out a sigh of relief. Whilst I was in the cave, I had told Reyna to remain airborne while I did so, and she did not protest the choice. Evidently not being keen to return here and possibly meet Lupa herself.
Finally, with that taken care of we returned to the camp outskirts. Taking care to fly around the long way, so to remain out of sight of any curious sentry we landed finally outside my tent on the cliff.
Nemea was absent, obviously walking through the woods below. It was amazing to see a known monster that cannot talk itself follow every instruction without protest. Either she still feared me for the freeze-dried ice-cream incident, or perhaps she actually enjoyed this lifestyle, other than the flashing around part. Having a dozen girls constantly feeding her scraps of food was probably also a bonus.
"Ok, why are we up here and not down there inside the camp. I am guessing this is where you stay but what about me?" She asked looking over the cliff and spotting the tents below.
"Well Diana doesn't return until around five-thirty AM and it is only midnight now. So, unless you want to stay on the ground out here, otherwise you can stay in my tent if you want." I explained.
"What about you? Where will you be staying? I doubt the goddess will appreciate you staying in there with me." She asked inquisitively.
"I am supposed to be on duty tonight anyway, this was just an excursion to find you. If I don't go on guard now, that I am back there will be one very angry kitty by morning." I explained earning a blank face, quickly I remembered she never would have learned of Nemea's presence before as she had been on Olympus when the Octavian incident occurred.
"Just so you know I have the Nemean Lioness as a pet, and she helps to guard the camp whilst I am away and every other night." I explained earning a wide-eyed stare.
"Ok sure, first Hellhounds and now living tanks, I thought I had it bad with Aurum and Argentum as pets." She said in disbelief.
"So, if you want you can follow me, and I will lend you a bed for the night. When you join you will likely get your own tent." I said walking towards the structure, and she followed on behind.
We entered the tent, which unlike Artemis's had a higher door so I was not forced to duck, and I concentrated on the interior and summoned a new bed in a free area of space.
"I wouldn't exactly call it five stars, but it should do you until morning." I told her rubbing my hand through my hair in almost embarrassment at having the girl in my 'room'.
"After weeks of sleeping in the woods and up trees, with only a cloak for warmth. Anything is five stars if it has a bed." She joked throwing herself heavily on the mattress armour and all.
"I will wake you up when Lady Diana returns, try not to touch anything. I don't have any weapons in here at the moment but try to be careful, as my stuff can still cause serious problems." I warned to which she nodded sitting up on the bed.
"Ok then, have a good night then Praetor." I said and walked out before shutting the tent flap door behind me.
"Scipio you should go graze or sleep or whatever you want for the night. Though I am going to need you to be back for when the moon sets." I said turning towards the winged horse nearby.
"Yes, Milord and thank you for saving my mistress." He answered politely.
"You don't need to call me Milord and I didn't save her from anything." I replied calmly.
"Yes, you did 'boss' you saved her from herself. She saved me and I would do anything for her, but it pained me to see her like that." He said mournfully as I raised an eyebrow at the new name. It was easy to forget he had briefly been stablemates with Blackjack and the others.
"She deserved better that is true, and don't you start with that boss crap." I said scornfully.
"Okay then Lord Perseus."
"Why is every Pegasus a smart ass, why can't you just call me Percy like everyone else?" I said putting my face in my hands catching my broken nose, the sharp pain reminding me of that injury.
"Because where would the fun be in that Milord." He said cheerfully now flapping his wings playfully.
"You're really Greek, aren't you? A Roman Pegasus would be filled with respect at my presence not lipping off."
"True I am, I also knew your friend Blackjack from my time on the Princess Andromeda, though I was only a foal when he escaped with you. Now with your leave Milord I intend to get some rest." He explained before slumping to the floor with one wing outstretched behind him before bending his neck and lowering the other one over his face.
With that conversation over I intended to get some Ambrosia to heal my face only to remember that all of mine was now in my tent along with Reyna and I was loath to disturb her.
Besides there was bound to be some in the hunt's medical tent. I thought as I jumped off the cliff and glided into the camp stealthily. I walked amongst the hunters tents quietly unwilling to disturb those inside as I searched for the correct tent before reaching to open it and finding it unwilling to budge even when I was straining to pull it until I gave up. Of all the things that could beat me, a zip was last one I suspected.
I decided to forget the injury for the time being, it was no longer hurting so much and other than the fact I had a congested nostril from the congealed ichor I barely noticed it. I would deal with it when Diana returned. I could go use some water but there was no guarantee it would heal it correctly and there was no way I was letting Reyna break it again to reset it before trying again.
It was only when I flew back up the cliffside and looked down that I spotted the figure of Morganna along with two wolves at her side looking to the south on guard duty. Suddenly I was reminded that they were doing that tonight in my absence. Nemea not being here was perhaps just a coincidence and I had almost potentially given myself away to the daughter of Hecate if she had turned around for a split second.
The rest of the night passed peacefully, taking the long road down the hill I found Nemea by the water's edge and summoned a big horn sheep for her to devour. Remembering that it was actually native to the state and would look less suspicious if the hunters found what was left of the remains.
Making my way back up the hillside again I remained up there and kept watch over the camp, watching as the hunter's cycled the watch every hour and a half and the wolves every three. When this happened one wolf would leave their mistresses side and run back to their tent before another would leave and meet the hunter and the other wolf wherever they may be. I had to concede that the training and discipline of the wolves was top notch considering they had been absent for more than a year.
Occasionally I would check on the current position of the moon and find myself staring at it for minutes at a time. As I daydreamed of the goddess and how I missed her during these lonely hours, until I remembered that she could likely see me and there was no way I was getting accused of slacking off even if the hunters were in control tonight.
By the time the sun began rising in the west, as evident by the lightening night sky beginning to conceal the stars. I began to prepare for Artemis/Diana's return and found myself outside my own tent. I waited until I eventually felt the now familiar presence of the goddess flash back to the camp below. Before knocking against one of the tent poles with one of my throwing knives, hoping the loud chime of the hits would wake up the current occupant inside.
Slowly I heard a commotion inside before suddenly Reyna burst out still wearing her full set of armour and with sword in hand. The only sign she had been asleep were the bags under her eyes and the fact her black hair resembled a bird's nest. She focused eyes on me before suddenly relaxing and lowering the blade.
'You need to get ready the goddess has returned.' I explained simply and watched as she dived back inside and soon enough, I heard the sound of splashing water and then she was back looking slightly more refreshed. Oh, how I didn't miss the lifestyle of going on quests, wondering if you going to get attacked in your sleep whilst sleeping rough in the back of some trailer or some abandoned warehouse. I mean seriously I remember being given a few hundred dollars and told to travel across the entire country as a twelve-year-old. Five years later and I wouldn't trust my old self to travel from one end of Manhattan to the other.
"So how do we get down there then?" She asked wearily. Water still dripping off of her fringe.
"We fly down there, unless you want to walk half a mile in the opposite direction down from here and then an equal distance back again." I explained pointing at the far side away from the cliff which was a long ramp into the distance.
"Ok then, what is so difficult about that. You can just fly us both down there now in like a second?" She asked pulling her hair back and making an attempt at making it presentable, albeit failing epically. It would probably take the twins a few hours to sort that tangled mess out.
"Because I can't exactly just fly inside the camp, up here is nice and secluded and hidden from accidental witnesses besides Thalia may be awake already. She is the last person I want to find out I have been keeping secrets from her. Only the goddess knows who I am properly. I am going to need to arrive with you, unfortunately for Skippy there." I said loudly waking the horse who protested wearily at my use of his nickname as he staggered to his hooves.
"We are only going like thirty meters across and down a hundred meters, how hard can it be? That is like one descending loop." She asked curiously.
"With a normal person it wouldn't be an issue, but I am not exactly small. These wings are not just coloured gold they are physically made out of Imperial Gold, I can bare their weight with little problems. The issue isn't flying down, it is getting airborne in the first place. Scipio will only be able to fly it for a few minutes at best I am guessing." I explained.
"You must be the best looking and yet heaviest man in the world." Reyna joked and I was I blushed at the compliment.
"What I only weigh around half a ton now." I joked back, truthfully, I had no idea how heavy I was not. Most bathroom scales were just not going to cut it.
"Glad to see you are living like most Europeans concept of an American then. You need to cut back on the cheeseburgers Fatty." She joked.
"Very funny but I am all muscle for the most part. Now Scipio I am really sorry about this, but I can offer you donuts as reparation." I called across to pegasus as he tilted his head.
"Chocolate sprinkled and I will call it quits, I don't like those sugar glazed ones. Too sickly sweet." He demanded trotting over before Reyna mounted him and I realized he was still wearing his saddle from the night before, with all Reyna's equipment still attached to, it couldn't have been too comfortable for him. He seemed unconcerned by it clearly, perhaps had become used to it just like his mistress?
"Done deal, although you may have to wait until I get a chance to get out of here before I can get them." I explained walking over to him and I saw him bracing. Thankfully due to my height, mounting on his back was relatively straightforward as with a small bounce I threw a leg over his back and sat behind Reyna. Almost immediately the pegasus partially stumbled but fought through it and quickly ran towards the cliff and we dropped rapidly before his flapping caused a slight rise and stabilisation of our descent. We slowly wheeled around in circles lower and lower until he lined up with a free area of space between some tents and we landed.
I leapt off his back the moment his rear hooves made contact with the ground. Much to his apparent relief as he slowed from a bound to a canter and slowly trotted back around before stopping next to me.
"That was one of the most painful experiences of my life." He gasped out his breaths ragged as his tongue hung limply.
"How many donuts do I owe you?" I said patting the horse on his head sympathetically.
"All of them." He said dropping his head as Reyna dismounted and then he practically collapsed.
"What did he say in reply?" Reyna asked curiously looking up from equine companion.
"Apparently I now owe him every donut in the world." I replied chuckling.
"Unfortunately, Skippy I don't want a fat Pegasus, so thirty-six should be more than enough and I want no protesting." She said facing the Pegasus scornfully.
"Sorry but what your boss says goes my friend. Although we should remove his saddle and load so he can recover faster." I said turning from the pegasus to Reyna as she nodded all the while he looked in betrayal at Reyna limiting him.
We both had removed the saddle and pack in minutes when I heard the sound of a tent opening and a figure walking out while stretching her arms upwards. Eyes closed and releasing a yawn before first looking at the Pegasus on the floor and her eyes naturally locking on the unfamiliar demigod in front of her with looks of confusion.
Looking between the pair of them, I briefly wondered who was less of a morning person when it came to their appearance.
(Thalia)
To say I was confused when I heard voices outside my tent would be mildly putting it. I recognized one as Percy but the other I was sure I recognized from somewhere. However, I couldn't place where I had heard it, it was certainly not one of the other hunters or Artemis. Most confusing was what I was sure was a horse's neighing and Percy seemingly replying afterwards.
After a few minutes of getting dressed into something more appropriate than PJ's I walked out of my tent only to see a Pegasus collapsed on the floor alongside Percy. It was strange to see him with a very swollen nose along with another girl, one who was wearing full Roman armour and weaponry.
"Good morning, Thalia!" Percy said far too cheerfully for this time in the morning.
The other girl meanwhile was still staring at me, and I admittedly struggled to try to remember who she was. From the brief period the Romans had remained at Camp Half-Blood. Admittedly none of us had been in the mood to deal with their group after what had happened to us.
"Percy. Why is there a Roman here at this time in the morning?" I asked wearily turning back to him, I couldn't stand the look she was giving me. Was she staring at me sizing me up for a fight or something?
"Reyna here wants to join the hunt." He explained happily. Reyna. She was the gods damned Roman commander, general or whatever they were called. Why would she possibly want to join us?
"Why exactly would you want to join? I thought all you Romans were happy with yourselves after you tried to kill us all!" I asked angrily.
'Not everyone followed that fool when he attacked you and I am sorry for standing aside and letting it happen. I paid the price when I left the legion.' She replied confidently and I could see truth behind her words. I looked her over and noticed a few odd details. Her armour and cloths were in perfect condition and yet her body showed signs of old injuries, bruises and cuts ran the length of her arms and her face was showing signs of extreme fatigue.
"Ok then, when and how exactly did you get here and why is there a Pegasus collapsed on the floor?" I asked pointing at the poor creature.
"I met her last night and brought her back. As for Scipio there, he was unable to take my weight alongside Reyna's." Percy explained simply.
"Wait... how long have you been here?"
"Since about Midnight, she stayed in my tent while I was on duty." Percy added.
"So let me get this right, a Pegasus collapsed after a short journey from up there, wow he must be in awful condition, or you are a fat ass Seaweed Brain." I said pointing at the outcrop where Percy's tent was.
"He needs a nice proper Greek diet of Donuts to regain his strength." Percy joked looking at the pegasus who was staring back at him mouthing something inaudible to me but clearly the son of Poseidon understood.
While I was watching him have a staring contest with the horse, I saw a tent behind the trio open and reveal the figure of Artemis. She looked over us all before focusing on the cape wearing girl and shifting aspect into her Roman equivalent.
(Diana)
"Good morning, Thalia, Perseus and you must be Reyna." I said looking over the figures in front of me acknowledging each of them in turn.
"Good morning, Lady Artemis/Diana." The two full demigods answered in synchrony while Percy simply nodded his head in acknowledgement. Looking at him I noticed his nose was still swollen and crooked. Why the fool had not healed it already was beyond my comprehension. All I knew was it currently ruined his good looks as did the small amount of blood/Ichor on his neck.
"Thalia, go and help Perseus heal his wound whilst I deal with Reyna. I will talk with the pair of you afterwards." I commanded and I saw Thalia bow and grab his sleeve and begin to lead the guardian away towards the medical tent after he finally averted his eyes off me. Much to my secret pleasure as I smiled at the thought.
"Reyna if you would kindly follow me." I commanded simply and waited for the Praetor to follow me inside my tent as I conjured both a mini throne for myself and a chair for her, before we took our seats facing each other.
"So, Praetor, what makes you worthy to join my hunt?" I asked coldly looking at her.
"I admit I am not exactly trained in the techniques of a hunter, until last year I didn't even know your huntresses still existed. And I certainly never thought I would be here today. We Romans as I am sure you know Milady, are not exactly educated in the use of stealth and Archery and as of today I have yet to ever fire a bow. I only have my military training and past as experience." She admitted humbly.
"I don't know about lack of stealth daughter of Bellona. You managed to evade Lupa and her pack and would have been able to ambush Perseus, who as he told you is Titan of the Hunt. If he didn't have enhanced senses and powers, you would have likely caught him unaware. As well as this you knew when a foe was beyond your capabilities and quickly retreated to a predetermined means of escape, that sort of forward thinking is uncommon for those of your bloodline." I said genuinely praising her.
"Thank you, Lady Diana." She replied confidently smiling a little.
"As for your past, I am well aware of your past with my youngest brother and the part Hera's meddling played in ruining your chance with him. But understand if you are to join my hunt, this is a final decision, no secret romances and moves towards ANYONE, you will swear to remain a maiden and serving the hunt. That means no to Jason should you see him again and certainly not Perseus. Likewise, for the same reason he swore to refrain from attempting relationships with my hunters." I said regretting the need to highlight Percy as an example, what a great example I was when it came to him. However, the fact that he was also always in close proximity and good-looking and powerful and loyal and...
"He is lost to me now, what chance do I have against the goddess of Beauty and Compassion." She mumbled under her breath barely audibly knocking me out of my musings regarding the other example I had given. As far as I was concerned Jason was little different from the hundreds of other demigod children my father had sired. He was just born at the right time to fulfil a prophecy conveniently. I would happily take ten of Thalia over her brother any day, as much as she could annoy me with questions.
"Good then if you understand I want you to repeat after me. I Reyna, daughter of Bellona pledge myself to the goddess Diana. I turn my back on the company of men, accept eternal maidenhood and join the hunt. Now this is your last chance to back out and return to New Rome." I warned but seemingly at the mention of the city she gained a look of determination. It was cruel of me to use psychological tactics to force her hand, but I doubted it made any difference on her decision.
"I Reyna, daughter of Bellona pledge myself to the goddess Diana. I turn my back on the company of men, accept eternal maidenhood and join the hunt." She said with confidence.
"Then welcome sister to the hunt." I replied in acceptance sealing the pact and giving the girl my blessing.
"Thank you, Lady Diana." She said after taking a deep breath.
"You're welcome, Reyna. Now first things first, there will be no more striking our guardian, as impressive as it was to watch you rearrange his face.' I warned playfully. I quite liked it how it was already, don't ruin it for me!
"Wait you saw that, Milady?" She asked in surprise.
"I can see and hear just about anything that happens under the moonlight if I know where to look. As such I was watching your confrontation with Perseus with Perseus from above. Likewise, I trust you not to break the oath you made to not tell the others about him. He is here of his own free choice, and I respect his decision to maintain his own privacy." I explained.
"Oh." She said simply just as a knock was heard against the door.
"Milady we are back." A voice I recognized as Thalia's called from outside. Perfect timing
"The pair of you can come in, we are done already." I called and watched the pair enter, Percy's face now thankfully back to normal.
"So, Milady did you accept her then." Thalia said indicating Reyna.
'Yes Thalia, Reyna has joined us. I have also decided that she will be staying with you for the moment." I explained drawing sour looks from both as they looked each other over. It was an idea I had come up with during the night if everything went to plan.
"But..." They both said at the same time only to be cut off by me raising a hand. Behind them both Percy was grinning whilst looking between the pair of them.
"Thalia, you need to get over your prejudice towards the Romans, we cannot let the augur's actions tar them all with the same brush. The Pantheons are no longer isolated, we will have to deal with them eventually. As my Lieutenant you are in control when I am not around. The last thing I want, or need is you triggering a conflict with them over some perceived insult. As for you Reyna you need to get over your bitterness of Jason and learn the basics of what it means to be one of us. Thalia is more than qualified to do so." I explained as they both glared at one another.
"Why what has she got against my brother?" Thalia asked with hostility looking back towards me.
"It is all irrelevant now Thalia. You will work together and stay together until I say otherwise. You may even enjoy the challenge after all, you may find you have a lot in common. Now take your new sister to get equipped and meet the others when they awaken." I instructed to my red-faced sister who groaned under her breath as she walked out, soon followed by the newest huntress who too looked less than impressed with this decision.
"Are you sure that was wise Diana?" Percy said turning to me after they had left as I lounged back in my chair.
"I meant what I said. I need them to work together rather than clash over grudges." I explained relaxing now that everything had gone as planned so far.
"That's if they don't kill each other first. They are both very similar and once they realize it, they should get on or so I hope." He explained sitting in her vacated chair. I almost instinctively found myself looking at his face to make sure it was healed properly. It would be difficult to explain that I had to break his nose again, because it was ascetically bothering me.
"Percy come here a moment." I asked calmly and he leaned over towards me.
(Percy)
I was confused of why she asked me to come over, when we were fine talking where we were nevertheless, I complied as instructed leaning forward.
Suddenly, the goddess's right arm lunged forward and slapped me around the face leaving me shocked and surprised. Even as she was again sitting back in her I was left motionless in a state of utter confusion.
"I told you to be careful remember! You let your guard down and got hurt because of it. Remain on guard until you know your target is defeated. Never be overconfident regardless of who you are or what you are fighting. It is the boar that is cornered that gores kings or so the hunting idiom goes, you should always remember that." She said changing from worry to smugness as I held my cheek. The slap hadn't hurt it was more just the surprise of the action that had stunned me. But she was right, it was a rookie mistake to assume the disarmed girl was no longer dangerous. How many times had I utilised the same situation from the other side of a fight?
"I guess I will do now. Quick question though why is there a secret lock on the medical tent. I tried to use it last night but couldn't open the damned thing and then Thalia tells me this morning only hunters can, why?"
"Oh right, I didn't think of that before. It was originally done before there was permanent camp for demigods and I didn't want them raiding our supplies. As you can imagine my hunters generally live a lot longer and rarely get sick, allowing us to stockpile quite a large amount over time. Something that came in useful for your fellow campers during the battle in Manhattan. Regardless I give you Percy Jackson permission to you the camp supply tents." She said with a snap of her fingers.
"Thank you that could have potentially been a problem in an emergency." I stated thankful it hadn't been one even if it did hurt like hell for a while. Perhaps I should think of the time as a lesson in humility as she suggested.
"Luckily your nose is only a minor concern of mine although I am sure Tania will regret having missed it. Now did anything else happen that you need to report, other than your occasional star gazing period. You literally carry the constellations on your arm, you don't need to strain your neck looking at them." She joked out, seemingly not realizing I was actually looking at her and not the stars.
"No other than almost killing Reyna's Pegasus with the sheer weight of my wings even if it was not necessary, which reminds me I need to leave for a bit today and get some donuts." I said probably sounding random and off tangent.
"Just east of here on the Sonoma Highway is a monster donut store, go there it shouldn't take you too long if you fly." She answered nonchalantly.
"I am not a monster and how do you even know that?" I said looking at her in surprise at how quickly she had that answer.
"No but you are a Titan, they will serve you just like they serve us gods. All they care about is the money and as for how I know, I had breakfast there on the way back." She explained pointing to a table in the far corner where a paper bag was sitting with the vaguely familiar logo on it.
"You continue to surprise me Di. So, do you like just pull up in the drive-thru with the moon chariot?' I joked earning a frown.
"I meant Diana calm down." He apologised albeit still grinning.
"We are informal enough as it is Perse, it is bad enough when my Greek Counterpart's name gets abbreviated by my dimwit little brother and Aphrodite without you joining that list. Remember unlike them you can die, and you still bleed red." She said coldly before smiling. The way she talked about Artemis and vice-versa always confused me. I still wasn't sure if they were two personalities of the same body or whether they were outright separate people that were forced to deal with one another.
"Red Ichor though which reminds me." I said as I retconned my own clothes and made any remaining dirt and stains go away, this was far easier than washing the damned things and was guaranteed to remove all tough dirt including blood stains.
"You truly are unique and continue to surprise me. Now go and get some rest just in case we need to step in between the two new best friends later, I think that perhaps we should have some proper melee combat practice." She explained and honestly, I was excited to hear it. I wanted to see who would win between the pair in an honest fight of skill without powers.
"I wouldn't miss it for the world." I stated to the smiling goddess before leaving.
(Thalia)
This girl was already annoying me. First, she turns up in the middle of the night and no one tells me that she was coming. Then I find out that Percy was actually ordered to go and get her by Artemis. I didn't mind the idea of having the other Roman girl, Suzie around as she knew nothing of the Legion or New Rome. But now, we had its former commander amongst us, even if she had helped to stop Octavian.
The problem was she refused to change into our normal hunter's outfit when I gave it to her. She still insisted on wearing her armour over the top of the silver outfit. Eventually I gave up on forcing the issue, if she wanted to bake herself in the midday sun then that was her problem. Next came the issuance of weaponry and her stubborn refusal to relinquish her sword and shield in favour of the twin knives all hunters used. While I had no problem in her carrying a sword and shield as I also always bore a shield on me, mine however was concealed outside of combat. Whereas bearing a shield while conducting archery meant you had to drop a weapon. By the time we were done, she was wearing the silver clothing overlaid with her golden gilded armour. The only thing she had reluctantly left behind was the cape now handing in 'our' tent. With a newly issued bow across her back, sword in a sheath strapped to her leg and spear and shield in hand. She was looking nothing at all like a hunter.
The day went by quickly as I introduced her to her new fellow hunters and showed her around the camp. I could see the looks and talking they were doing outside of earshot and guessed they were discussing rumours about the girl.
As for Reyna she looked about analytically as if looking for signs of danger and other threats which resulted in her preparing for battle when she saw the large form of Nemea stalking between the trees drawing her spear or Pilum to be technical. Although unlike a normal mortal one the metal spike was solid Imperial Gold rather than the usual soft bendable iron.
She only settled down around the lioness when I stepped in front of her and placed my hand on the weapon forcing her to lower it and explaining that she was Percy's pet. For Nemea's part she seemed to regard the spear as little more than a potential toothpick.
I also knew it was not just the hunters watching us, as several times I caught sight of two figures looking down from the overlook as if watching us. I figured that Percy and Artemis were interested in what was going on with us all. Which made me determined to work her harder, if she wanted a place in the hunters, she had to prove her value to me and my sisters even if the goddess did accept her oath.
Archery practice proved that she had initially no idea about how to fire a bow. Which pleased me to see her struggle with it, clearly out of her comfort zone. Although she was quick to grasp the basics and unlike Percy, didn't manage to cause any friendly fire and was able to hit the target occasionally even at distance after only an hour's practice. Given time she would learn the finer points but honestly it wasn't too bad for a first-time user of a bow, much to my chagrin. If anything, she was already as good or better than the twins and they had several days more practice.
(Artemis)
It was amusing to watch my Lieutenant leading the new girl around while introducing her to the other hunters and other animal denizens of the camp. I did not approve of Reyna's choice in equipment, but I would hold my tongue on it for the moment. The hunting knives the others carried were not compulsory weapons, but all hunters carried them already as they were a smaller and more flexible weapon to use but if she wanted to use a sword, then so be it.
The girl despite her claim, was seemingly naturally gifted with a bow, even if she was still a little new to the weapon. I had spent the morning up on Percy's cliff watching their interactions. Percy had eventually joined me for a while, before disappearing to go get the promised donuts for the weary pegasus. Speaking of whom was currently grazing nervously in a clearing watched closely by the wolves.
Finally, after lunch it was time for the weekly melee combat training. Unlike yesterday's hand to hand fighting that Phoebe had won, here the hunters would spar with their own choice of weapons at close range until a winner was declared in a series of knock outs.
The various girls all gathered on the firing range because it was the largest open area and I flashed down amongst them. My sudden appearance still surprising the three newcomers.
"Milady." They all said respectfully.
"I will explain this for the newcomers, last one standing is the winner. Close range weapons only and that still excludes the use of throwing knives, Phoebe." I said warning the girl after she had almost blinded a fellow hunter with one of the weapons a few hundred years ago. Ever since I had made it a point to repeat the warning every single time, as a matter of habit.
"Winner is decided when the opponent is disarmed or yields. Atlanta will serve as medic as usual. Any questions?" I asked looking around them all.
The twins paled at the prospect, whilst if anything Reyna looked excited for what was happening. I pair everyone off with the twins both against Phoebe due to the odd number and their lack of experience offset by there being two of them. I watched Thalia and Reyna seeming want to complain as I paired them off against others and not each other. I claimed it was because I didn't want to match my newest hunter against my Lieutenant, in reality I expected them both to be in the finals.
The fights quickly passed with surprising results as the twins seemed more focused on arguing with each other than fighting Phoebe who rapidly disarmed them after watching the scene in amusement. Thalia defeated Tania as both used spears although Thalia had the advantage of choosing to wield a shield for defence. Reyna made light work of little Jacqueline but then again, she was less than half her age. The bout was less of a challenge to Reyna than a training exercise for the daughter of Hermes. The other hunters were too gentle on the young girl. Whereas Reyna struck suddenly and kept up the assault until she was disarmed of both knives with her back on the ground with a golden blade to her throat. Jacqueline had to learn what a real battle was about and how a real foe would treat her.
Morganna was forced to dispel the corrosive and poisonous magic on her knives as she combated Erica but nevertheless swiftly prevailed against the daughter of Demeter.
By the time the second round was ready Percy was back from his errand and was sitting down and watching as well.
"So how is she doing in this?" He asked nodding towards Reyna.
"She certainly has potential; I will give her that. But I think she will have a challenge against Phoebe this round." It was going to be Daughter of War vs Daughter of Victory.
"Sword and Board versus butter knives, I know who my money is on." He said calmly.
"Those knives would skin even you alive, if I was using them." I said threateningly.
"Is that a challenge Milady?" He asked raising an eyebrow.
"Does the mighty hero want to play with the big girls now?" I joked cheerfully.
"Done. Compared to some of the women I have fought you are outright small, even in your Olympian form. Hello, I defeated Gaia she was the size of a small mountain." He replied puffing his chest out.
"I am quite aware I was there." I told him rolling my eyes.
"Lady Artemis, show him that we are better than him." I heard Tania say and realized they were all watching the exchange closely.
"You're just bitter because I beat your dad." Percy replied sticking his tongue out at the daughter of Ares who turned crimson. She attempted to rise to her feet only to be held back by cluster of tomato vines growing around her ankles courtesy of Erica. No matter how much he had matured, he was still the same impertinent boy underneath, and it was cute to watch.
"You know what she is right, I think that it is a good idea. Girls you can think of it as a demonstration on how to beat a larger opponent. Perseus here is about the size of a small Cyclops and unlike a Cyclops, he doesn't crumble when you hit him too hard." I stated smiling as I watched him pale.
"Great I get to be a punching bag; can we at least wait till after the hunters finish?" He asked and I had to agree. I wanted to see what those could do if given the opportunity.
"Ok then girls the remaining four of you will be divided up into Reyna vs. Phoebe and Thalia vs. Morganna. Both matches will be fought concordant, and the final will be as soon as the winners are decided." I explained to the reply of much muttering as the four combatants paired off.
(Percy)
What had I got myself into now? I was now stuck in a duel against the goddess and unlike her I was limited in terms offensive capability. I was limited to Riptide and my shield as the Titan weapons were simply overpowered for a practice battle. Although I did have my own knives as a back-up just in case. Fortunately, the goddess would not be affected significantly by the Stygian Iron components power.
As I was lamenting my luck, I focused on the duels in front of me and saw Thalia was having little trouble against Morganna, as they went knives against knives. My cousin was simply more athletic and experienced than the other girl. Who I guessed was more focused on own her inherited abilities in combat normally as I noticed that her bronze blades lacked their usual ethereal glow. Eventually, Thalia was able to dodge a high swing by ducking beneath it and swiping her legs out once she was inside Morganna's guard. With her opponent down and winded, she wasted no time whipping her own blades up to her opponent's neck forcing her to yield.
By comparison Reyna was having a much harder time as she struggled to strike the nimbler older hunter. Her choice of sticking with her spear and shield was surprising, true it gave her much longer reach but was useless when she was within close stabbing range as it stood the weapon was little more than a large bat most of the time as she swung it around after Phoebe. The only thing keeping her in the dual was her shield as she managed to catch her opponents' own strikes on the face or the rim.
This stalemate continued until Reyna launched a faint at Phoebe's legs, causing the other girl to jump up while simultaneously slashing her knife in a high strike only to once again be met by the shield. However, in the time it took for the other Phoebe to land Reyna had dropped the spear and drawn her sword whilst lowering her shield angled where Phoebe would land. Unable to adjust her trajectory whilst airborne Phoebe handed on the bottom of the shield. Reyna then used this chance to push forward increasing the gradient of the shields surface resulting in Phoebe staggering backwards and falling on her back. Phoebe should have immediately kicked off the purple shield the moment she landed but was too late to do so. As such when she began to rise again, she was swiftly met by an armoured boot on her chest and a golden blade pointed down.
"I yield." Phoebe said reluctantly and Reyna stepped back in acknowledgment.
Around us there was some half-hearted clapping, this was really the first of the six battles that potentially could have gone either way.
"Reyna vs. Thalia." Artemis stated simply and the pair looked at each other with glares as they walked to either side of the makeshift arena area.
"Percy, lend me your sword." Thalia asked as more of a demand much to both mine and the hunter's surprise.
However, as rude as it was for her to demand Riptide. I was amused by the concept of Thalia going against a swordswoman at her own game and simply tossed the concealed Riptide towards her. She caught the pen in one hand before drawing the cap and holding my sword in one hand while drawing Aegis from her bracelet. Reyna by comparison threw away her spear and redrew her Gladius.
There was silence in the air as everyone watched the pair before they finally both charged at one another. Both lock shields at the point of contact as their blades were caught between them and they both began to struggle to push the other back.
The deadlock was interrupted when Reyna drove the elongated bottom of her shield downwards meaning to catch Thalia's feet with the crushing blow. However, Thalia noticed the tactic and pushed the top of the now lowered shield forcing Reyna to back up slightly and instead placed her feet upon the shield and kicked back while doing a somersault. Reyna stumbled backwards from the force of the motion while Thalia landed on her feet several yards away. However due to the distance put between them she was unable to capitalize on the advantage as Reyna quickly regained her footing.
This time they closed into striking range and began to take restrained strikes at each other only to be met by the blade or shield of the other. So far after a minute of this, the pair were still dead even and it was getting nowhere. In all likelihood if this was a real battle then Thalia would have won easily by now if powers were allowed. Blocking her attacks with a metal object were a big no-no if you didn't want to get shocked. But in a practice duel like this where they were forced to hold back such abilities neither could gain an advantage over the other.
Suddenly without warning Thalia tossed Aegis aside and Reyna followed suit both holding the blades in two hands before once again charging at one another.
The clash of gold on bronze was rapid and furious and even I began to struggle to keep up with their moves until it suddenly ended.
(Thalia)
I couldn't believe the force she was putting behind her blows and I was glad that Riptide was nigh invulnerable. A mortal blade would have long been ruined by the repeated strikes along the blade edge. However, the power she wielded was offset by her apparent lack of agility compared to me as a result of wearing her armour.
Finally, I saw a chance when she overextended on a lunge, and I drew her in towards me.
(Reyna)
I was surprised when she fell for the faint I had launched. I pretended to step too far, and she reacted by trying to cause me to fall. Seemingly by grabbing hold of my armour strap and tugging me off balance. However, I waited for it and grabbed her sword arm in my left and forcing it aside. All the while bringing my sword hand up towards her neck and saw her panic and drop the borrowed bronze sword she held. Instinctively I responded by dropping her empty arm thinking she was surrendering, only for her to grab a hunting knife and flip it around in her hand.
(Artemis)
I looked on in surprise to see the scene frozen before me. There was Thalia with a blade to her throat while also having a knife pressed against her opponent's side below the ribs where the armour buckles were. For the first time in minutes, there was silence as they noticed their predicament.
"I would say that was a draw, Lady Artemis." Phoebe noted and the others nodded in agreement.
"Agreed. Thalia, Reyna it is a tie, from how you are both of you could easily land the killing blow." I declared and watched them both relax and fall to the floor in exhaustion. As Atlanta walked over and offered them aid.
After a quick square of Ambrosia both looked a lot better and were able to rise from the ground and regarded each other respectfully.
I was quite surprised when Thalia offered a handout towards the other girl who tentatively took it in her own.
"Welcome to the hunt, sister." She said with a smile before pulling her into a hug much to Reyna's surprise as she found her feet lifter an inch or two off the floor.
The other hunters let out a sigh of relief as the situation defused and were followed by Percy clapping in congratulation swiftly followed by the rest.
"Ok now let's go get some dinner." Percy stated before making to leave rapidly.
"Hey Perse, aren't you forgetting something?" Thalia shouted causing him to freeze in his tracks.
"We did our fight or are you to chicken out of doing yours?" Reyna chanted afterwards.
Upon hearing this I saw his shoulder slump before he turned around and muttered a single profanity under his breath.